Vol. 458 No. 2
77 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Finance the amount of reduction in public spending in his Department as a result of the Government decision announced by him on 8 June 1995; the number of new posts established in his Department since that date and agencies under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16810/95]
The effect of the Government decision to which the Deputy refers was that as on and from 9 June 1995 no new posts could be created without specific Government approval. In order to give effect to the decision it was necessary that the Government should have available to it a baseline figure of staffing levels. This figure was determined on the basis of criteria outlined by my Department. Since 8 June 1995, no new posts, over and above the baseline figure, have been established in my Department or any of the agencies under the aegis of my Department, other than in the Office of the Ombudsman where, following a subsequent Government decision, the Public Offices Commission was established on 1 November 1995. Five new posts have been approved in respect of the commission's staffing.
