Michael D. Higgins
Question:117 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if the Government is considering an embargo on restriction of public service recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25556/02]
Written Answers. - Public Service Recruitment.
As I said in my budget statement last week, the Government has decided that numbers employed across all sectors of the public service are to be capped at their present authorised levels with immediate effect. In addition, the Government decided that there will be a reduction of 5,000 in the total number over the next three years.
There are over 280,000 people employed in the public service according to the latest CSO figures and I consider that a reduction of 5,000 is realistic. I consider that an embargo on recruitment would be too crude a policy instrument. Instead there will be a selective approach to identifying areas across all sectors of the public service where savings in numbers can be made. I expect that the reduction can be achieved through natural wastage. There will not be a ban on recruitment as such but there will be a reduced level of recruitment and appointments.
I have already started the process of consulting with my ministerial colleagues on where the reduction can be made. While I am not making any decisions on the distribution of the reduction until I have concluded the consultation process, I will be seeking to avoid or minimise the effect on front-line staff providing a service to the public and to ensure that essential services to the public will not be affected by the reduction.