Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 October 2004
22 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Finance the progress made on his arrangement to reduce public service numbers by 5,000 by the end of 2005; and if this will underpin the preparation of Estimates for 2005. [24640/04]
View answerI am satisfied with the progress being made in regard to the reduction in public service numbers since the announcement of the measure in December 2002. There were 280,121 public servants serving at end June compared with a target at the end of 2004 of 280,171.
|
Public Service |
Target end 2004 |
Serving end June 2004 |
Difference Serving/Target 2004 |
|
Civil Service [Non-Industrials] |
36,269 |
35,447 |
-822 |
|
Civil Service [Industrials] |
2,163 |
2,003 |
-160 |
|
Health Sector |
96,950 |
97,660 |
710 |
|
Education Sector |
78,000 |
78,911 |
911 |
|
Defence |
11,580 |
11,412 |
-169 |
|
Garda |
12,200 |
12,099 |
-101 |
|
Local Authorities |
33,633 |
33,330 |
-303 |
|
Non-Commercial Semi-States |
9,376 |
9,259 |
-117 |
|
Total |
280,171 |
280,121 |
-50 |
The overall total masks differences between sectors. Since the 5,000 target reduction was originally set, the ceilings for the numbers employed in the education and health sectors have been adjusted to reflect subsequent developments. My predecessor already agreed to increases in numbers in the education sector, to meet the demand in the special needs area, and in the health sector, to meet the demand for extra staff arising from disability needs, the opening of new units and the takeover of functions previously performed by voluntary agencies. The revised authorised targets will underpin the preparation of the 2005 Estimates.
