Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Nov 1991

Vol. 413 No. 5

Written Answers. - Health Board Staffing.

William Cotter

Question:

174 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Health the number of (1) social workers (2) child psychiatrists and (3) psychologists employed by each health board on 1 May in each of the years (a) 1986 (b) 1987 (c) 1988 (d) 1989 (e) 1990 and (f) 1991; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mrs. O'Rourke)

My Department have, since the mid 1980's, carried out a detailed annual census of employment levels in the health services. Since 1988 the census has been taken on 31 December of each year. The statistical information set out on the following tabular statement is therefore the most proximate available to that requested by the Deputy. Equivalent data in respect of 1991 are not yet available.

There has been a significant increase in the numbers of social workers employed in the health boards in 1989 and 1990 arising primarily from the introduction of special budgetary measures.

Also the implementation of theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress and related developments such as the Child Care Act, initiated during the current year, have enabled my Department to approve the recruitment of a further significant number of social workers in the health boards. In the same context I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department have also given approval to the recruitment of a number of additional consultant child psychiatrists and psychologists in 1991.

The Deputy will, I am sure, be aware that the public voluntary hospitals and homes for the mentally handicapped also employ substantial numbers in these disciplines.

	31 Jan. 1986	30 Jun. 1987	31 Dec. 1988	31 Dec. 1989	31 Dec. 1990
Eastern Health Board
Social Workers	121.9	132.3	149.8	161.8	184.3
Child Psychiatrists	*	5.0	5.0	4.5	4.0
Psychologists	29.8	21.3	29.3	26.3	29.3
Midland Health Board
Social Workers	18.7	18.5	22.6	22.8	24.5
Child Psychiatrists	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Psychologists	3.2	3.2	3.1	5.1	6.1
Mid-Western Health Board
Social Workers	21.0	22.0	24.0	27.0	32.0
Child Psychiatrists	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Psychologists	4.8	5.4	6.4	6.4	6.0
North-Eastern Health Board
Social Workers	12.0	14.0	16.0	18.0	17.0
Child Psychiatrists	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Psychologists	2.0	3.0	4.0	4.5	5.0
North-Western Health Board
Social Workers	35.0	32.0	33.9	40.9	38.4
Child Psychiatrists	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Psychologists	12.3	13.0	11.0	13.5	14.5
South-Eastern Health Board
Social Workers	24.0	25.0	21.5	26.5	27.5
Child Psychiatrists	0.2	0.1	0.6	0.6	0.1
Psychologists	6.5	4.9	4.6	4.6	5.5
Southern Health Board
Social Workers	51.0	41.0	41.9	41.4	49.3
Child Psychiatrists	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Psychologists	6.0	6.0	6.1	8.1	6.0
Western Health Board
Social Workers	44.4	42.5	48.0	48.5	50.0
Child Psychiatrists	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
Psychologists	24.0	18.0	13.5	13.0	12.5
Health Boards Total
Social Workers	309.3	308.8	335.1	364.1	398.4
Child Psychiatrists	*3.2	8.1	7.6	7.1	6.1
Psychologists	85.4	71.6	74.9	76.4	78.8

*Information on child psychiatry is not available in respect of the Eastern Health Board for 1986.