Seán Crowe
Ceist:751 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of social workers employed in each health board; and the number of unfilled vacancies for social workers in each of the health boards. [1933/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraDáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2004
751 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of social workers employed in each health board; and the number of unfilled vacancies for social workers in each of the health boards. [1933/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of social workers employed in each of the health boards for the period ending September 2003 is contained in the followingtable. The figures are in whole-time equivalentterms.
Eastern Regional Health Authority |
650 |
Midland Health Board |
80 |
Mid-Western Health Board |
140 |
North Eastern Health Board |
109 |
North Western Health Board |
120 |
South Eastern Health Board |
122 |
Southern Health Board |
234 |
Western Health Board |
130 |
Total |
1,585 |
Responsibility for human resource planning, including the filling of vacant social worker posts in each health board region, rests with the chief executive officer of each board. Each CEO, in managing the workforce in his or her region, is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing mix and the precise grades of staff to be employed in line with service plan priorities, subject to overall employment levels remaining within the approved regional employment ceiling. My Department has, therefore, asked the regional chief executive of the ERHA and the chief executive officers of the health boards to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply to him directly.