Paul Kehoe
Question:127 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance the directives which have been issued to Departments in relation to the filling of permanent vac ancies and the continuing employment of temporary staff. [5471/03]
Written Answers - Departmental Staff.
Brian O'Shea
Question:166 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to date in discussions on the way in which and the areas in which the reduction of 5,000 in the numbers employed in the public service will be implemented, in regard to his announcement in the budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5371/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 166 together.
The decision to cap numbers in the public service at the authorised level on 4 December was a Government decision and Departments needed no further directive to implement this decision.
I indicated after the budget that I had started the process of consulting my ministerial colleagues on where the reduction can be made and that I would not be making any decisions on the distribution of the reduction until I concluded the consultation process.
I am reviewing the proposals made by Ministers in response to my request for their views on how the reduction could be achieved and in the light of this I will consider how the target can be reached. I will engage in further consultations with my colleagues when my considerations are completed. No other directives or instructions have been issued to Departments regarding the filling of vacancies pending the outcome of my review.
I remain of the view that the reduction can be achieved through natural wastage and 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.