Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not accept that the 3% payroll cost reduction is a drastic cut. In fact, some of the criticism from the other side of the House has been that it is insufficient. I know Deputy Flanagan's interest as justice spokesperson for his party is with regard to the efficacy of the prosecution service, and he makes the case. The point we would make is that in late 2006 the Department of Finance carried out a review of staffing in the DPP's office and 28 extra posts were approved, bringing the staff complement to 106. The office is carrying 5.8 whole-time equivalent vacancies within the 2006 sanctioned posts and this is expected to reduce to 4.8 whole-time equivalent posts with the filling of a library post in late February or early March of this year.

The DPP's office states it will be able to meet that 3% payroll expenditure cut without affecting service levels, so it is not accurate to describe it as drastic. The office will be able to do this because it is operating from only two buildings rather than the expected three, which means it does not need to fill three permanent posts and two contract posts that had been sanctioned, and there will also be savings in respect of heat and lighting and other expenses. In addition, it is introducing a range of measures such as changes in work practices and the level at which work is performed, delays in filling vacancies and tight control of overtime payments.

Also, in regard to fees which the DPP pays barristers, a planned 2.5% increase from September 2008 for such fees was not implemented and the payment of refresher fees after 5 p.m. has been suspended. Those are the practical steps that were taken to accommodate the direction and it was done in a way which did not affect service levels.

By way of background, during the previous year the approval of 28 posts was an indication at that time of the need to deal with the increased workload. Through good management, information technology and higher productivity, these caseloads are being met and can be met. We candidly acknowledge what the DPP had to say regarding what he sees as possible difficulties later on in the year. This is something we must monitor.

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