Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 29 May 1990

Vol. 399 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Vacancies.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

110 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of established positions of (a) cleaner, (b) messenger and (c) porter which exist in his Department; the number of vacancies which have remained unfilled because of the embargo; the present number of vacancies; the number which are capable of being filled; the number which have been filled since 1 January 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The numbers of staff in the grades concerned who are required at any time will vary depending on administrative and organisational developments in the Department. Developments in computerisation and the availability of electronic mail facilities in recent years have, for example, reduced the requirement for messenger services for headquarters buildings.

It is not possible therefore to say what change in staffing would have occurred in any event in the absence of the embargo.

Prior to the embargo there were 89 positions as messengers, 48 as cleaners and ten as services attendants. At this point there are 67 messengers serving, 39 cleaners and nine services attendants and arrangements are being made for the appointment of three additional messengers. There are no positions as porter in my Department.