Vol. 507 No. 2
144 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children the facilities that exist in the new health centre in Brookfield, Tallaght, Dublin 24; if a social worker is available on a daily basis to the Fettercairn area; the plans, if any, he has to expand related services at this health centre; his response to the Fettercairn Area Core Group's recommendations on the need for a permanent social worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16431/99]
The provision of facilities in the primary care centres in Tallaght is the responsibility of the Eastern Health Board in the first instance.
I have been informed by the Eastern Health Board that the following facilities are available at the primary care centre at Brookfield: GP services; public health nursing services; social work services; speech and language services; customer information services.
The board has also advised me that the aim of the Brookfield centre, where the general practitioners and the board's community staff work as a multi-disciplinary team, is to meet the total community needs of the population of the area.
The board confirms that there were 38.5 social workers employed in community care area four, which includes Tallaght at 31 December 1998. Social workers are deployed to meet service needs on an ongoing basis and the needs of Fettercairn are prioritised in line with the needs of the area as a whole. The board advises that the needs of community care area four, including Fettercairn, have to be considered with regard to the requirements for social workers throughout the board's area, and in line with the board's ability to recruit to fill existing vacancies.
