Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

There is an ongoing moratorium in the public service which was introduced as an emergency measure in response to the financial crisis. Under the terms of the moratorium all local authority staffing requests must be sanctioned by my Department.

In accordance with section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, it is a matter for each local authority, in the first instance, to ensure that the reduction in staff numbers is managed in order that the appropriate service level is maintained. Section 10 of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 set out the functions of a fire authority, which include the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of premises and, of course, its fire fighting role.

My Department works very closely with local authorities to ensure that critical posts are filled while overall numbers are reduced having due regard to the continued delivery of key services and the need for further reduction in overall staffing levels and expenditure in the local government sector. Dublin City Council's overall staff numbers have reduced from 7,326.15 whole time equivalents in June 2008 to 6,072.35 whole time equivalents in December 2011, a reduction of 17%. In the same period the number of full time firefighters employed increased from 825 whole time equivalents to 874 whole time equivalents.

I understand that the position in regard to staffing in Dublin Fire Brigade is kept under constant review by Dublin City Council. The panel referred to by the Deputy, which was in place since 2007, expired in December 2011.

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