Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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411. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which adequate staff remain available to her Department with particular reference to extra administrative activity workload arising from the introduction of new schemes and the ongoing economic situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31630/14]

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. As part of the Department’s Workforce Plan, the staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, which includes identifying areas where there are downward pressures because of the localisation or cessation of a scheme or upward staff pressures due to the introduction of new schemes or areas of work. The Workforce Plan 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.

The Department’s ECF for 2014 has been revised upwards by 100 posts on foot of correspondence between the Secretary General and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. In addition, the Department has received a sanction to recruit staff outside of the ECF to deliver the Public Services Card programme and the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Scheme. I can assure the Deputy that the Department will continue to monitor resources to ensure that we continue to provide a high quality service to customers.