No new posts have been sanctioned for my Department, or in the Office of the Tánaiste, since the Government decision of 6 June 1995. Vacant posts existing at the time of the Government decision have been subsequently filled.
In accordance with the terms of the Government decision of 29 August 1995 to admit to the State an additional 250 refugees from the former Yugoslavia, three new post were created in the Refugee Agency which falls under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The refugees will arrive in three groups over the coming months with the first group expected to arrive at the end of November. Efforts are being made to fill these posts by redeployment from elsewhere within the Civil Service; one EO post has already been filled in this way.
No new posts were established in other agencies under the aegis of my Department since the Government decision of 6 June 1995.