Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

If the Deputy looks at the total figure - this applies to communications as well as across the Department - he will see that the level of staffing is below the ceiling we were permitted. There are a variety of reasons for this, such as people taking retirement, etc. The position in this regard will be corrected as the year progresses because as Deputy Colreavy noted, we certainly do not have any fat in the system. Those numbers will be brought up to par as the year progresses.