Social Protection warns on loss of key staff members

The Department of Social Protection has warned that it faces “a high risk of losing significant numbers of experienced staff with critical skills” over the next decade, at a time when it has been stretched because of a surge in demand for its services.

The claim is included in a briefing note to newly appointed minister Regina Doherty, published last night, which also explains how almost 1,000 staff have retired since the beginning of 2012, with the department keen to retain its approved 2017 staffing level into next year so as to “deliver its critical business”.

The note also shows an increase in absenteeism, the cost of which to the department in 2016 is estimated at just less than €9.6m. A strategy is in place to tackle the issue.