Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I wish to be as helpful to the Deputy and the House as I possibly can. I will take the last question first.

The Deputy is correct. People may not have given notice yet because, by virtue of their contractual arrangements, they are only required to give four weeks notice. I asked, as I repeatedly said in the House last year, for three months notice in order that we could make advance plans. Most public servants do not want the situation to worsen as they leave and the vast majority with an intention of leaving have already given notice. I wish to be as helpful as I can such in giving a breakdown of the data available to date. However, the Deputy is correct; some people who have not yet given notice will apply to leave and I dare say there are many on the list who will withdraw their application. The figures, therefore, are tentative and the Deputy is correct to that extent.

I understand that in the education sector approximately 2,000 have indicated an interest in leaving, of whom 1,500 are teachers. In the Civil Service the number is approximately 794; in local authorities, 730; the Defence Forces, 192; and the Garda Síochána, 297, giving a total of 4,014. Between September and the end of February in the health service, the indicated number so far is in the order of 3,500.

I have indicated that I will be flexible in seeking to ensure that front line services are protected. I informed the committee when the Deputy was present last year that, although the full year retirements might amount to 9,000, we would indicate that up to 3,000 people could be recruited into the public service. We want to do that in a focused way that meets the criteria we have set and I would be happy to discuss the matter with the committee. We have strategic planning groups in each sector to ensure that front line services are protected as far as possible.

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