I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together.
Staffing numbers for my Department are managed having regard to the Employment Control Framework (ECF), which is the mechanism for the management of the reduction of overall public sector staff numbers, administered by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The ECF sets reducing annual targets for Departments – and other Public Sector Bodies – to meet, and Business Units of my Department are organised accordingly.
For the period July to December 2013 there were seven staff departures and one staff member assigned to my Department, which taken together represent an associated estimated annual cost saving of €300,000. In 2014 to date, and estimated to year end, there will be 51 departures and 55 staff assigned, which when taken together show an associated estimated annual cost of €200,000. Of the 55 new assignees, 48 come from the dissolution of Forfás and the integration of its policy and related functions into my Department. In addition, there are also staff on career breaks and changes from full-time to part-time work patterns which are reflected in the overall staffing figures of any Department.
In calculating the above figures, the number of departures from the employ of my Department includes those who have transferred/redeployed, retired or resigned.
It is not possible to estimate staffing departures or new assignments for 2015 and 2016 at this time, with the exception of advising there are estimated to be 13 age-related retirements in 2015 (estimated annual cost saving €650,000) and 7 age-related retirements in 2016 (estimated annual cost saving €350,000). Staffing provision of the Department for 2015 and 2016 is yet to be determined but will be influenced by various factors, including business need, available finances and Government policy on public sector recruitment generally.
