319 Deputy George Lee asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide a list of all job titles of employees employed by her Department in 2008; the jobs that are front-line staff; the jobs that are administrative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48273/09]

320 Deputy George Lee asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide a list of all job titles of employees employed by her Department in 1997; the jobs that are front-line staff; the jobs that are administrative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48289/09]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 and 320 together.

The grade titles of employees serving in the Department of Health and Children at end December 1997 and end December 2008 are detailed in the table below.

The function of civil servants employed in my Department is to provide support to myself and the Government by:

advising on the strategic development of the health system including policy and legislation;

supporting their parliamentary, statutory and international functions;

evaluating the performance of the health and social services; and

working with other sectors to enhance people's health and well-being.

As such all staff employed in my Department could be considered to have administrative roles and functions, e.g. social workers in the Adoption Board. However, a number of these staff would deal directly with the public on a professional level.

*On secondment to the Department of Health and Children.

A list of all grades in the public health service, together with the numbers employed (for the years 1997 to 2008), and a copy of the relevant salary scale was provided to the Deputy in September 2009 in response to Question 30539/09.