Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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371. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide additional social welfare inspectors in County Kerry to help with the enormous workload; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3762/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department has to operate within an employment control framework (ECF) target, as determined by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. In this context, the staffing needs for all areas within the Department, including those relating to the social welfare inspectorate in County Kerry, are continuously reviewed. This takes account of workloads, management priorities and the competing demands arising, to 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.

I can assure the Deputy that the Department will continue to provide high quality service and, where necessary, source available staff to fill critical vacancies by way of redeployment, or transfer from within the Department and other Government Departments within its ECF target.