Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I understand the point the Deputy is making, but I do not want to set up a new bureaucracy involving a new trawl of every agency or company that applies cleaning or catering facilities even on a short-term basis. We have reduced the number of people working in the public service and do not want to put new burdens on them unless there is an identifiable problem, which I do not believe is very widespread.

This happened in specific sectors. For example, in the education sector, many retired teachers were brought back. While one can understand them doing a day's substitution, recently retired teachers returning to cover for maternity leave when qualified young teachers were available is a different kettle of fish and I believe the Minister for Education and Skills has addressed those. In general terms I do not believe there is a widespread problem, but I will reflect on what the Deputy has said.

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