Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 Apr 1996

Vol. 464 No. 1

Written Answers. - Civil Service Jobs Embargo.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

46 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the number of vacancies in his Department or agencies under the control of his Department which currently cannot be filled due to the embargo on staff recruitment; the number of these posts filled on a temporary or contract basis; the process for recruiting temporary/contract staff; whether this is excluded from the terms of the embargo; the projected annual savings as a result of the embargo; the level of overtime being offered to keep work and services up to date; if he will give a projection/forecast in respect of the situation on 1 January 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7772/96]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

I propose to respond generally on this matter.

It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the decision by Government in the context of the 1996 Estimates, that two out of each three vacancies in each Department or office would remain unfilled.

The number of posts in my own Department which cannot be filled due to the restriction on public service numbers referred to above amounts to five posts. For the Civil Service generally, including offices for which I have responsibility, the number of posts which cannot be filled amounts to about 80. Posts affected by these restrictions have not been filled by temporary or contract recruitment which is also covered by the restriction.

The projected annual savings as a result of the restriction are estimated at £2 million in 1996.

As regards overtime, it has long been general practice in certain Departments to resort to overtime working to deal with seasonal pressures. Overtime expenditure in recent months has not increased over previous years.

The number of posts which are expected to remain unfilled by 1 January 1997, as a result of the restriction is expected to amount to approximately 300 posts.