The latest information from the HSE indicates that 31 social work staff in the children and families care group availed of the early retirement scheme. The HSE is actively reviewing the impact of recent retirements at national and regional level. The National Director of Children and Families Services, Gordon Jeyes, will apply his discretion over the course of the year to the filling of vacancies, having regard to identified need and subject to services being delivered within available resources.
The HSE has informed me that it has approved the recruitment of 48 replacement social work staff across all care groups since February 2012. These posts are at various stages of recruitment.