Vol. 573 No. 1
154 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the areas in which it is proposed to achieve 5,000 job cuts in the public service across the various Departments in 2004; if the cuts are likely to be at lower or higher levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24531/03]
The Government decided to reduce authorised num bers in the public service by 5,000 by the end of 2005 and on the distribution of 4,300 of these posts between sectors. I intend to revisit the issue early in 2004 to see where the balance of 700 posts can be identified.
Authorised numbers will have been reduced by a total of 1,073 posts by the end of 2003. This will be followed by a further reduction of 1,479 posts in 2004 giving a total reduction of 2,552 by the end of 2004. This total does not include any of the balance of 700 posts.
The 2,552 total will be made up of 400 posts in the health sector, 550 in the education sector, another 550 in the Civil Service, 220 in the Defence Forces, 667 in the local authorities and 165 in non-commercial State-sponsored bodies.
I have already stated that I intend that the reduction should be distributed appropriately across all grades and levels. The reduction will be achieved through natural wastage and it is up to each individual public sector manager to work within the parameters outlined to them. There will not be a reduction in front line persons such as gardaí, nurses and doctors.
