Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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73. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which staff numbers have been reduced throughout the public service in each of the past five years to date; the savings accrued therefrom on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17201/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I refer the Deputy to the detailed information on public service staff numbers and expenditure available on my Department's website, at .  The databank gives details of public service staff numbers by Sector and by Vote Group, and it also provides corresponding details of expenditure, both pay and non-pay, for the years to which the Deputy refers. 

It will show that from 2008 to 2013, public service staff numbers reduced by just over 10%, from a peak of around 320,000 in 2008 to just under 288,000 at the end of 2013.  It will also show that the public service Exchequer pay bill was reduced from a peak of €17.5 billion in 2009 to €14.1 billion (net of the Pension Related Deduction) at the end of 2013.  This paybill reduction has made a significant contribution to the overall fiscal consolidation effort, and it has been achieved through a managed reduction in public service staff numbers, reductions in public service pay rates and the introduction of the pension related deduction, which is applied to public servant's gross pay.