Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

As I stated this morning in response to Deputy Martin's question, there is a central planning unit in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Every line Minister is addressing the question of the actual number of people who will be leaving the public service. I have pointed out that several thousand people leave the public service every year in normal circumstances. This is the conclusion of a decision-making process where people, themselves, decide to leave and obviously the flexibility of the Croke Park agreement will now be tested in terms of redeployment and the mobility of staff to continue to provide services that are critical for the people.

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