Vol. 463 No. 3
319 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he or the Minister(s) of State at his Department have directed any of the staff employed in the departmental constituency office to work directly in the local constituency clinic; if so, if this practice is in the public interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6498/96]
Neither I nor the Minister of State at my Department, Deputy Durkan, have directed any established civil servants employed in our departmental constituency offices to work directly in our local constituency.
From time to time, and in accordance with established practice, non-established civil servants working in my departmental constituency office and in Minister of State Durkan's constituency office have worked in local constituency clinics. I am satisfied, given the temporary nature of the staff involved, that this practice is not contrary to the public interest.
