Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 584: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if social workers and therapy grades continue to be exempted from the moratorium on recruitment and filling of vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25271/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Government has decided that health service employment numbers must be reduced to approximately 102,000 by the end of this year, in line with its commitment to reduce public expenditure. The employment control framework for the health sector, including children and family services, is expected to be finalised shortly. It is not anticipated that any particular grade will be exempted from the recruitment moratorium. Priority posts can be put in place where this is possible within the employment ceiling and budget. Accordingly, the National Director for Children and Family Services in the HSE, Gordon Jeyes, will as I have previously advised, apply his discretion to the filling of vacancies subject to these conditions being met.