Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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146. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which her Department continues to have available the necessary staffing levels to meet the on-going requirements in the course of the on-going economic situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26270/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The staffing needs for all offices within my Department are continuously reviewed, having regard to workloads, management priorities and the competing demands arising, taking account of the Employment Control Framework (ECF) target, as determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Vacancies across the Department are prioritised according to their criticality.

I can assure the Deputy that the HR Division of my Department will continue to source available staff to fill the priority vacancies, in line with the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014, by way of redeployment, or transfer from within the Department and other Government Departments. This will ensure that the best use is made of all available resources, with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.