Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy raised a number of questions. I have indicated previously that over and above matters such as pay savings and the capacity to make decisions at front-line level, there are overarching issues in respect of which we have taken a whole-of-government approach. I refer, for example, to the recommencement of recruitment to the Garda Síochána, the recruitment of 1,700 additional teachers, resource teachers and special needs assistants, SNAs, and the appointment of health sector specialists. Total public sector numbers increased by 1,400 last year. I have explained this in detail at Question Time on a number of occasions. What we are doing is recycling what I call the "reform dividend", that is, money we are saving by means of the implementation of the Haddington Road agreement, into meeting front-line needs. Deputies warmly welcomed this when I first indicated that we would do it. I hope to be able to continue to do that in order that it will not be simply a crude numbers issue and that we will identify the areas in which real pressure, which we may wish to address, exists. In the context of so-called yellow pack recruitment, as has been the case every step of the way since the Government took office, any decisions will be made in consultation with, and it is hoped with the agreement of, the public sector unions involved.

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