asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of additional staff appointed in his Department and the changes made in personnel since 15th March, 1973; the reasons for the additions and changes; and the names of staff employed on public relations and their qualifications for such offices.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Department of Social Welfare Personnel.
44.
Apart from appointments and transfers to fill normal vacancies, the following additional staff were appointed in my Department since 15th March, 1973:—one Private Secretary to the Minister; one personal Assistant to the Minister; one Personal Assistant to the Parliamentary Secretary.
This staff was required because of the appointment of both a Minister and a Parliamentary Secretary to the Department in place of one Parliamentary Secretary only before that date; the private office staff of the previous Minister, who was also Minister for Labour, was provided by the Department of Labour. In addition, 673 staff were transferred from the Department of Labour because of the return of the employment exchange services to my Department. The Information Section of the Department which comprises one higher executive officer, one executive officer, one clerical officer and three clerical assistants deals with public relations as part of normal duties. The staff are all established civil servants who have received training in the different aspects of the Department's work.