Mr. P. J. Fitzpatrick:

We certainly do not have the detailed figures on the numbers. The numbers are determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Each Department is given a ceiling that it is instructed not to exceed in employing the numbers. On the management of those numbers, our job is to facilitate the reduction in the numbers. We do not micro-manage the day-to-day management of the numbers. We know because we get the returns at the implementation body. Returns are done from all Departments and all agencies to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the numbers. I think they are done every quarter. That is the only way we can track whether the numbers are likely to meet the targets in the programme for Government required to enable the State to meet the budget. This agreement cannot operate in isolation from the budget. It is key to ensuring Departments and agencies are able to manage with less money in pay and non-pay terms.