I propose to take Questions Nos. 1682 and 1683 together.
With the exception of staff changes which occurred following changes in Ministerial responsibilities, the information on changes to staff numbers as a result of retirements and other departures and changes is shown in Table 1.
Table 1
|
Staff Numbers (WTE)
|
|
|
|
|
Year
|
Departures
|
New staff
|
Net Reduction
|
|
2013
|
12
|
1
|
11
|
|
2014
|
24
|
10
|
14
|
|
2015
|
14
|
6
|
8
|
|
2016
|
8
|
|
8
|
The information for 2014 is based on actual numbers to date plus projected changes to year end. The numbers for 2015 and 2016 are projected based on staff due to retire plus a number of known returns e.g. career breaks due to expire. The vacancies filled to date through recruitment include safety critical posts in the Irish Coast Guard and the Air Accident Investigation Unit, where sanction was granted as an exception to the moratorium on recruitment.
The overall payroll savings arising from staff reductions is incorporated in this Department's exchequer funded pay provision. In addition to the payroll allocation specific to this Department, the Vote allocation also provides for the pay and pension funds for the non-commercial agencies under the aegis of this Department. The total Vote provision in 2013 for the Department and agencies of €76.5 million reflected a reduction of 6% on the 2012 allocation. The combined net outturn by the Department and agencies in 2013 was €74.6 million, realising an added saving of 2.5% on the original allocation. The 2014 provision of €67.1 million realises a further reduction of 12% on the 2013 provision. I anticipate that further reductions will be reflected in the Vote allocations for 2015 and 2016 in the context of the Estimates process and the ongoing staff number reductions.
