Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 549: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of social workers currently employed in Dublin; the number employed in Dublin for the years 2007 to 2010 inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34682/11]

Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 550: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of social workers with a specific child protection remit employed in Dublin; the number employed for the years 2007 to 2010 inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34683/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 549 and 550 together.

The Government is committed to fundamental reform and transformation of the delivery of our children and family services. A number of significant structural and legislative changes are key to effecting such reform. This includes the establishment of a new agency with dedicated responsibility for the delivery of child welfare and protection services, separate from the HSE.

The employment control framework for the HSE provides that the grade of social worker is exempted from the public sector moratorium on recruitment and filling of vacancies.

The Ryan Report Implementation Plan committed to the recruitment of an additional 270 social workers. 200 of these new posts were in place by the end of 2010. The HSE National Service Plan includes financial provision for the recruitment of a further 60 social workers this year. I have been assured by the HSE that it plans to have these additional staff in place by the end of the year.

The additional social workers will be targeted at priority areas of the service having regard to an overall assessment of workload undertaken by the National Director and his team. The recruitment of the additional social workers is one element of a wider change agenda within the HSE, through which I believe we can deliver better outcomes for children and families. This reform agenda will lead to the establishment of a new Child and Family Support Agency which will provide a dedicated focus on child protection and support families in need.

In relation to the specific manpower related matters raised, I have asked the Health Service Executive for the information in question which I will forward to the Deputy.