Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Jan 1994

Vol. 437 No. 7

Written Answers. - Public Service Vacancies.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

67 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the total number of vacancies which arose in 1993 in the public service and which would have been subject to the public service recruitment embargo; the number of positions filled in accordance with the embargo; the number otherwise filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Finance (Mr. B. Ahern)

My direct responsibilities for public service staff numbers apply only to the Civil Service. Other parts of the public service fall within the remit of other members of the Government.

In so far as Civil Service vacancies are concerned the position is that virtually all Departments and offices have since 1991 operated a system of administrative budgets. Under this arrangement, the allocation of resources, provided in the administrative budget, between payroll costs and other administrative expenditure is a matter for departmental decision and it is for Departments to decide, without reference to my Department, whether any alteration in its staffing level up to middle management level is desirable.

In relation to posts above these levels, departmental managements are expected to keep their organisation, structures and staffing dispositions constantly under review to ensure effective and efficient use of staffing resources and this may result in alterations of staffing profiles as vacancies occur. In addition, sanction to fill vacancies is forthcoming only where my Department is convinced that the continuance of a post is essential to the effective operation of a Department or service and where its filling can be accommodated within the constraints of the budgetary allocation of the Department or office concerned.

In the limited areas of the Civil Service where the administrative budget arrangement does not operate, no decisions have been taken by my Department to suppress posts which were vacated in 1993.