Vol. 573 No. 1
271 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of public service cuts proposed for her Department in 2004; the areas in which such proposed cuts will be effected; if they are likely to be at lower or higher levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24516/03]
Reductions in the numbers of staff in my Department are to be achieved over the period to the end of 2005 in line with Government policy on reducing public service numbers generally. These reductions will be achieved on a gradual basis over the period and the priority in this regard will be to minimise the effects on front-line delivery of services to the public. Restrictions on the filling of vacancies in the Department have applied from the beginning of the year and will continue. The restrictions are not being confined to any particular grade or level of staff and have regard only to the needs of the business areas concerned.
A review of the work and staffing levels in each area of the Department is under way at present aimed at ensuring that the reductions in staff numbers have the least impact on priority service delivery areas. In addition, certain efficiencies and reorganisations of work are being introduced under the terms of the Department's action plan under the Sustaining Progress agreement, which will help to reduce the impact of the staffing reductions in particular areas.
