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Early Retirement Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2012

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

Ceisteanna (140)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

140. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the impact that the early retirement scheme has had on the administrative functions of her Department; her plans to sanction the recruitment of additional staff; and if so, when, and the number of same. [49834/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Since 2009 just over 450 staff in my Department availed of early retirement schemes while other staff left or retired as normal. Obviously, this has had some impact on service delivery in my Department. However, the Department moved very quickly to fill critical vacancies arising from retirement, and since 2009 almost 900 staff have been assigned to my Department to fill these vacancies and additional posts that were approved to deal with the increased volume of claims due to the downturn in the economy. The majority of these staff have been sourced through the redeployment and transfer of staff from other Government Departments. In addition, in order to begin the roll out of the Public Services Card on a nationwide basis, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform gave sanction to the Department for the provision of up to 150 additional clerical officer posts. The sanction is subject to resources being sourced from redeployment panels in the first instance, and where resources are not available, the temporary recruitment of temporary clerical officers through the Public Appointments Service

The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, having regard to workloads, management priorities and the competing demands arising, with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department. I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to source staff to fill critical vacancies by way of lateral transfer and redeployment, taking account of the Employment Control Framework target, as determined by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Question No. 141 answered with Question No. 106.
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