THE HSE plans to recruit an extra 200 social workers for child protection services this year, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan told the Dáil.

She said 50 would be hired by the end of the second quarter, a further 75 by the third- uarter, and the remaining 75 in the fourth quarter. She understood from the HSE that the first candidates had been interviewed, and further recruitment adverts were placed innewspapers last month.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said yesterday marked the first anniversary of the publication of the Ryan commission report into clerical child abuse. The Minister of State for Children’s Affairs, Barry Andrews, had produced a list of 99 recommendations, but 12 had yet to be implemented. An all-party committee had recommended that the Government introduce by December 2008 legislation dealing with the vetting of people dealing with children.

Labour’s Emmet Stagg said it would be appropriate for the Dáil to hear a progress report rather than a short reply to a parliamentary question.

Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the Government had passed a Dáil amendment on Wednesday congratulating itself on its efforts on child protection. He asked when the House would have a chance to evaluate the implementation of the recommendations made in the Ryan, Murphy and Monageer reports, as well as the recent report by the Ombudsman for Children? Would Minister for Health Mary Harney or Mr Andrews accommodate such an opportunity?

Ms Coughlan said if a debate could be arranged, Ms Harney was willing to attend the House.