There is no general embargo on recruitment in the public service but there are restrictions so that overall the size of the public service continues to reduce.
The Government has set out an ambitious public service reform plan that aims to transform the quality and cost effectiveness of public services in Ireland. As part of that plan we are undertaking a steady and managed reduction in public service numbers and there are sectoral targets to meet this. Within these targets management have discretion on exactly how staff resources are allocated. This approach has delivered a reduction of just over 29,500 since its introduction in 2009 and it forms an important and ongoing component of the Government Reform Agenda.