asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that approximately 40 per cent of community welfare officers in the Dublin area are employed on a temporary basis only; if the Department will sanction the appointment of permanent officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Community Welfare Officers.
198.
The immediate concern is to ensure that the number of community welfare officers is such that the needs of the least privileged in the community can be provided for. In that context it is necessary at times to employ a greater number of temporary officers than would normally be desirable. At present less than one-third of the community welfare officers employed by the Eastern Health Board are temporary. A proposal to make a number of these posts permanent is under examination at present in my Department.