I am pleased to confirm that, earlier this month my Department was granted delegated sanction for pay and staffing for 2015 by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The terms and conditions of the sanction require the Agriculture Group (the Department and its Agencies) to comply with binding multi-annual pay ceilings. My Department is in the process of putting procedures in place to give effect to the sanction across the Agriculture Group. Within the parameters of that over-arching policy, the question of where posts are filled remains an operational matter for Teagasc management and its governing Authority.