Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the numbers of retirements in her Department since March 2011; the total number of staff currently employed by her Department; the total amount spent on wages on contract workers and permanent workers respectively; the number of new staff employed, temporary or permanent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20574/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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A total of 345 staff have retired from my Department since March 2011. There are currently 6,855 permanent staff serving in the Department, equating to 6,443 posts. The figure requested in relation to the amount of wages spent on contract and permanent staff is not readily available and will be forwarded separately to the Deputy.

Since March 2011 some 180 critical vacancies have been filled by way of redeployment or lateral transfer of staff from other Government Departments and agencies. In addition, temporary staff are recruited by the Department to cover absences of permanent staff on maternity leave, long term sick leave, other statutory leave and also to provide cover for some staff availing of the shorter working year scheme. Temporary contracts are offered for a fixed purpose and the term can vary according to the purpose of the contract. There were 516 temporary staff employed during the period in question. There are currently 177 temporary staff employed in the Department.

As the Deputy will be aware, there is currently a moratorium on recruitment in the Civil Service. However, the Department received sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to recruit qualified doctors to perform the role of Medical Assessors, and three Medical Assessors have been appointed since March 2011.