Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Public Service Staff.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

153 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to date in regard to the planned reduction of 5,000 in the numbers employed in the public service in regard to his announcement in the budget; if particular Departments or areas of the public service have been identified for such staff reductions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20773/03]

Seymour Crawford

Question:

171 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Finance if the Government has approved his proposals for the reduction in authorised public service numbers; and the details of the agreement. [20878/03]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 171 together.

I announced last December that there would be a reduction of 5,000 in authorised numbers in the public service over the next three years. I have made it clear on numerous occasions since then that I want 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 are not affected. I consulted with my ministerial colleagues on their contribution to the reduction in that context.

The Government approved my proposals on the timing and distribution of 4,300 of the 5,000 reduction last June. The breakdown by sector is as follows: health sector – a total reduction of 600; education sector – a total reduction of 1,000; Civil Service – also a reduction of 1,000; Garda Síochána – no reduction; Defence Forces – a reduction of 400; local authorities – a reduction of 1,000 and a reduction of 300 in the non-commercial State-sponsored bodies.

I recognise that additional possibilities of achieving reductions in numbers may emerge at a later stage. Accordingly, I intend to revisit this issue early in 2004 to see where the balance of 700 posts can be identified.

The implementation of the reduction in individual organisations is a matter for the management of the organisation. I consider that the reduction is small enough to be manageable in the context of the substantial increases in public service numbers in the past few years. In keeping with the partnership approach to industrial relations in the public service, I would encourage dialogue with staff representatives on the implementation of the reduction in individual organisations. I should stress that the staff side was aware of the reduction at the time the Sustaining Progress agreement was reached and that there is no question of any increased payments to any staff on foot of the reduction.

The Government had initially approved a reduction of 1,000 in Civil Service numbers. I subsequently decided that a further reduction of 49 posts should come from offices under the aegis of my Department. It has also been agreed that the reduction for the Department of the Environment and Local Government will be 72 rather than the 47 initially agreed.

I am circulating a supplementary table showing the Civil Service reduction by Department-office.

Supplementary Table

The following table shows the Civil Service reduction by Department:

	Reduction
Agriculture and Food	139
Arts, Sport and Recreation	16
Attorney General	5
Central Statistics Office	30
Chief State Solicitor	9
Civil Service Commission	35
Communications, Marine and Natural Resources	24
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs	10
Comptroller and Auditor General	5
Courts	30
Defence	5
Director of Public Prosecutions	5
Education and Science	55
Enterprise, Trade and Employment	34
Environment and Local Government	72
Finance	16
Foreign Affairs Headquarters	44
Health and Children	20
Justice, Equality and Law Reform	133
Legal Aid Board	10
National Gallery	2
Office of Public Works	39
Oireachtas	12
Ombudsman	2
President's Establishment	0
Prisons	109
Revenue Commissioners	65
Social and Family Affairs	100
State Laboratory	5
Taoiseach	9
Transport	15
Valuation Office	8
Total	1,074