Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The following is the situation in respect of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor as a result of the Nally report. Approval was given in January 2007 for the recruitment of 16 additional staff. The office currently has an authorised staffing level of 249 full-time equivalents and has a total of 233 full-time equivalent staff serving in the office and is carrying two vacancies. Like all Departments and offices, the Office of the Chief State Solicitor is subject to reductions in expenditure, staff numbers and retirements under the early retirement scheme. The office has reduced its staff by 14 posts and is currently carrying two vacancies. As such, 249 less 14 plus the two vacancies equates to 233 serving staff.

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