Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2015
267. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 26 May 2015, if she will outline the number of case officer vacancies in each region; and the estimated cost of filling each of these posts. [22405/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in the earlier response, there are currently 500 staff (whole time-equivalents) providing activation and case management support services across the Department's network of offices and Intreo centres. In general, they work in teams and are dedicated to working and supporting clients to help them regain employment. This number is supplemented by a further 160 mediators who are employed by Local Development Companies as part of the Local Employment Service which the Department contracts on an annual basis.
The number of case officers assigned by the Department to any given area is kept under review in the context of demand for services locally. Resources are allocated in areas of greatest need and are reviewed regularly to reflect local pressures. Therefore, the number of vacancies fluctuates on a weekly/monthly basis - and also by region - as resources are rebalanced to particular offices/centres to reflect emerging work and client demands. The national figure of 42 vacancies is, therefore, a snap-shot at a particular point in time and subject to change on an ongoing basis.
Overall, staffing needs within the Department are subject to on-going review. This is to ensure that, firstly, the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing as efficient a service as possible to those who rely on schemes operated by the Department and that, secondly, the services are reconstituted, where that proves necessary, to meet the changing needs of Irish society.
The majority of case officers employed by the Department are at the Higher Executive Officer (HEO) level. The figure used by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for the cost of a while-time HEO (including pensions, PRSI and overheads) is currently €74,447.
