Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not want to comment on the position of any individual union on the specific matter raised by the Deputy. It is important to note that the public service unions have agreed to the terms of the Croke Park agreement. Moreover, they have been looking for details of the management's proposals for achieving savings and efficiencies in the cost of delivering public services. Officials at management level within the Civil Service have given details of the proposals they intend to pursue to secure efficiencies and greater productivity to the Civil Service unions for consultation in advance of submission to the implementation body. The unions have also agreed to a fast-track binding mechanism for the resolution of disputes. I anticipate that Civil Service management will avail of those mechanisms where necessary.

I was also asked about the various sectoral action plans, with specific reference to the savings to be achieved under the Department of the Taoiseach's action plan under the Croke Park agreement. The Department employs 191 whole-time equivalents. It has reduced its overall staff numbers by 10% since January 2008. We will continue to reduce staff numbers by a further 2% below the employment control framework set by the Department of Finance, while maintaining the quality of the services we provide. Some 35 staff members have been redeployed to other Departments since January 2008. We will continue to actively facilitate the reallocation of staff to those areas of greatest need, in accordance with the redeployment arrangements set out in the agreement. The Department has already discontinued five of the six bodies under its direct control. The remaining body, the National Economic and Social Development Office, will continue to be subject to positive transformation. Vacancies at assistant secretary level will continue to be filled by open competition and consideration will be given to open competition for posts at other grades, where appropriate, for example, where specialist skills or qualifications are required. Merit-based competitions are used for the majority of promotions and they will be the norm for all future promotions. Staffing levels and structures will be reviewed in consultation with staff. The Department operates extensive opening hours, a standard 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., with 24-hour opening, as required, and these will be maintained in the context of that review. Between 2007 and 2010, the total budget was reduced by 18.2%, including a reduction of 8.3% in the pay budget. In the period 2011 to 2014, we will achieve further reductions of 14.4% in the total budget, including 11.4% in 2011, and 4.2% in the pay budget, including 1.2% in 2011.

See this speech in context