Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I cannot answer a particular question like that because I cannot micro-manage the 300,000 employees across the State agencies, the local government sector and each Department. There is an employment control framework and there is flexibility within the framework devolved within councils or Departments. I do not want to pretend that there is no pressure. There is pressure as we are reducing numbers because we must reduce the pay bill. There are no compulsory redundancies and we have maintained that policy to date. Some services will be affected. I do not want to pretend that is not a fact because we are in an economic crisis. Unfortunately we cannot afford all the services I would love to be able to provide. I am not in a position to speak about the local library the Deputy mentioned.

I regard the library service as a flagship for the State. When I was a member of Wexford County Council that was the only committee of which I wanted to be a member because I think libraries are very important to the community. On foot of this discussion I will ask my Department to contact Fingal County Council about this but I cannot give any succour or support to the Deputy about what flexibility might be available.

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