Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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135. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps he is taking to investigate allegations that social worker numbers were temporarily increased within the child welfare services in advance of the Health Information and Quality Authority inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2187/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I have been assured by the Agency that this practice is not employed in advance of HIQA inspections. At the end of November 2014 a total of 1403.46 WTE social workers were employed by the Agency around the country. The Agency's Employment Control Group has a national remit and decides whether agency workers are to be employed. Agency workers are only employed when it is determined that the provision of a safe service has been compromised because of a fall in staffing levels. These agency staff are only stood down when permanent staff are recruited or when staff return from absence. The Agency is actively addressing the staff shortfalls with continuing recruitment. 155 social workers recruited since the Agency was established, and a further 193 posts currently in the recruitment process.