Derek McDowell
Ceist:31 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of staff in each of the sections in his Department and their grade; and if he will make a statement on the adequacy of these levels. [10259/98]
Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:34 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide details of the staffing levels and their grades in the section dealing with children; their particular areas of responsibility; his views on the adequacy of these; and the proposals, if any, he has to improve the situation. [10263/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 34 together.
The number of staff in each of the Department's sections is listed in the following table.
|
Division |
No. of Staff |
Grades |
|
Minister's, Ministers of State and Press Offices |
30 |
1 Principal Officer |
|
2 Personal Secretaries |
||
|
2 Personal Assistants |
||
|
1 Administrative Officer |
||
|
2 Higher Executive Officers |
||
|
6 Executive Officers |
||
|
2 Staff Officers |
||
|
6 Clerical Officers |
||
|
6 Clerical Officers (Typists) |
||
|
2 Drivers (civilian) |
||
|
Secretary General's Office |
3 |
1 Secretary General |
|
1 Executive Officer |
||
|
1 Clerical Officer |
||
|
Adoption Board |
18 |
1 Chairperson |
|
1 Senior Welfare Officer |
||
|
6 Welfare Officers |
||
|
1 Assistant Principal |
||
|
2 Higher Executive Officers |
||
|
2 Executive Officers |
||
|
1 Staff Officer |
||
|
2 Clerical Officers |
||
|
2 Clerical Officers (Typists) |
||
|
Strategic Policy Development Unit (including Systems Unit, Health Promotion Unit, General Registrars Office, Corporate Services). |
137 |
1 Assistant Secretary |
|
3 Principal Officers |
||
|
13 Assistant Principal Officers |
||
|
1 Chief Education Officer |
||
|
1 Employee Assistance Officer |
||
|
15.5 Higher Executive Officers |
||
|
23 Executive Officers |
||
|
7.5 Staff Officers |
||
|
55 Clerical Officers |
||
|
3 Clerical Officers (Typists) |
||
|
1 Head Service Officer |
||
|
1A-Head Service Officer |
||
|
7 Service Officers |
||
|
1 Head Porter |
||
|
4 Porters |
||
|
Finance Unit (including Hospital Planning Office) |
70.5 |
1 Chief Architectural Adviser |
|
1 Deputy Chief Architectural Adviser |
||
|
2 Principal Engineering Advisers |
||
|
1 Principal Quantity Surveying Adviser |
||
|
1 Quantity Surveying Inspector |
||
|
3 Architectural Advisers |
||
|
2 Engineering Advisers |
||
|
2 Professional Accountants |
||
|
1 Assistant Secretary |
||
|
3 Principal Officers |
||
|
8.5 Assistant Principal Officers |
||
|
1 Administrative Officer |
||
|
10 Higher Executive Officers |
||
|
14 Executive Officers |
||
|
2 Staff Officers |
||
|
14 Clerical Officers |
||
|
4 Clerical Officer (Typists) |
||
|
Primary Health Care |
53 |
1 Chief Pharmacist |
|
1 Pharmacist |
||
|
1 Chief Environmental Health Officer |
||
|
1 Environmental Health Officer |
||
|
1 Assistant Secretary |
||
|
4 Principal Officers |
||
|
10.5 Assistant Principal Officers |
||
|
1 Administrative Officer |
||
|
10 Higher Executive Officers |
||
|
8.5 Executive Officers |
||
|
3 Staff Officers |
||
|
9 Clerical Officers |
||
|
2 Clerical Officers (Typists) |
||
|
Secondary Care |
31.5 |
1 Assistant Secretary |
|
3 Principal Officers |
||
|
7 Assistant Principal Officers |
||
|
9 Higher Executive Officers |
||
|
5.5 Executive Officers |
||
|
1 Staff Officer |
||
|
3 Clerical Officers |
||
|
2 Clerical Officers (Typists) |
||
|
Continuing Care and Blood Policy Unit |
18.5 |
1 Director |
|
2 Principal Officers |
||
|
3 Assistant Principal Officers |
||
|
5 Higher Executive Officers |
||
|
3.5 Executive Officers |
||
|
2 Clerical Officers |
||
|
2 Clerical Officers (Typists) |
||
|
Personnel Management and Development(including Voluntary Hospitals Superannuation Section) |
38 |
1 Director |
|
3 Principal Officers |
||
|
1 Survey Nursing Officer |
||
|
1 Nursing Adviser |
||
|
7.5 Assistant Principal Officers |
||
|
8.5 Higher Executive Officers |
||
|
8 Executive Officers |
||
|
6 Clerical Officers |
||
|
2 Clerical Officers (Typists) |
||
|
Child Care Policy Unit, Mental Handicap and |
26.5 |
1 Assistant Secretary Physical Disability Services |
|
2 Principal Officers |
||
|
6 Assistant Principal Officers |
||
|
1 Social Work Adviser |
||
|
3 Administrative Officers |
||
|
4 Higher Executive Officers |
||
|
6 Executive Officers |
||
|
2.5 Clerical Officers |
||
|
1 Clerical Officer (Typist) |
||
|
Medical Division |
7 |
1 Chief Medical Officer |
|
4 Deputy Chief Medical Officers |
||
|
1 Clerical Officer |
||
|
1 Clerical Officer (Typist) |
||
|
Internal Audit |
1 |
1 Higher Executive Officer |
|
Legal Section |
2 |
1 Legal Adviser |
|
1 Clerical Officer (Typist) |
||
|
Typing Section |
3 |
1 Clerical Officer, Supervisor |
|
2 Clerical Officer (Typist) |
It should be noted that the numbers given above refer to whole-time equivalent posts i.e two job-sharers equal one post. There are also a number of vacancies in the process of being filled and a number of people assisting the Department on a secondment/loan or consultancy basis.
The staffing in the child care policy unit is as follows:1 Principal Officer; 3 Assistant Principal Officers; 1 Social Work Adviser; 2 Administrative Officers; 1 Higher Executive Officer; 2 Executive Officers and 2 Clerical Officers The work of the unit is sub-divided into three areas of responsibility at assistant principal officer level; the main duties are: (i) Liaison with the North Eastern, North Western and Southern Health Boards, adoption contact register, access to birth records, pre-school regulations, family law legislation; (ii) Liaison with the Eastern Health Board, fostercare; homeless children, UN/International agreements, special care units; (iii) Liaison with the Midland, Mid-Western, South-Eastern and Western Health Boards, social services, initiatives on reporting of child abuse, immunity Bill, residential care.
It may be of interest to the Deputy to know that a detailed breakdown of the units work programme is contained in the Department's statement of strategy which will be laid before the House tomorrow, l May 1998.
The staff at present are under sever pressure, but can cope with the existing work programme. However, there are a number of additional tasks which may have to be dealt with, for which extra staff may be required especially in the child care area. I have made a submission in this regard to my colleague, the Minister for Finance, and additional staffing has now been approved.