Public Service Staff

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Ceisteanna (38)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

126 Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide full details of the total approved public service staffing intake and projected public service staffing intake for 2012, across all Government Departments and State agencies in respect of new hires outside the usual terms of the current public service recruitment embargo; if he will provide details of all requests, successful, unsuccessful and pending, made to him from the various Government Departments and State agencies in respect of the same; if he will specifically highlight within these figures all new hires related to Ireland’s EU presidency next year; the total cost to the Exchequer in respect of all such recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20256/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin)

The Employment Control Framework (ECF) for 2012 set a ceiling of 294,400 on public service staffing numbers by the end of this year. This will allow scope for some targeted recruitment of up to 3,000 in 2012 so as to address needs in key areas of front-line services, particularly in the Health and Education Sectors and other strategic requirements including the EU presidency in 2013.

The data sought by the Deputy on requests for moratorium exceptions for 2012 is being compiled and will be forwarded to her shortly.

In relation to Ireland's forthcoming Presidency of the EU in the first 6 months of 2013, the Government has provided up to €10 million this year for additional staffing costs in the lead-up period. Departments can meet their temporary additional Presidency staffing needs in a number of ways including the temporary taking on of extra personnel (e.g. via redeployment/secondment, interns, hiring of specialist skills) on appropriate terms and conditions. No permanent hiring of new staff is envisaged for the EU presidency.