Vol. 573 No. 5
54 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Finance the number of positions in the public service which will be suppressed in 2004 under the agreement he has made with Departments to suppress 5,000 positions over the years 2003-5; and the estimates of savings in expenditure in this regard. [25862/03]
59 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Finance the amount of the reduction in places in the public sector, as promised in budget 2003, which has been achieved to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25712/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 59 together.
The Government decided to reduce authorised numbers 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. Essential services to the public will not be affected.
Pending the finalisation of the allocation, by grade and number, of the staffing reductions at organisational level, it is not possible to quantify the savings which will result from the reductions in public service employment levels. The final financial allocations to be agreed for 2004 will reflect the anticipated reduced staffing levels across the public service.
