Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will remove the embargo on the filling of posts in the Local Government Service in view of the fact that the reduction of numbers is having a perilously detrimental effect on services to the public by local authorities. [11804/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The embargo on the filling of posts in the local government service was introduced on 24 March 2009 following a Government decision to implement savings measures across the wider public service. My Department received a delegated sanction from the Department of Finance in August 2009 for implementation of this general moratorium on the filling of public sector posts across all local authorities. This is on condition that the overall staffing levels in the sector are reduced significantly by the end of 2013.

The local government sector reduced numbers in terms of whole time equivalent staff by some 6,600 between June 2008 and March 2011. The total staff number, in whole time equivalents, is now 30,600 and the employment control framework target for local authorities is 30,000 by end 2013. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each county and city manager is responsible for staffing and the organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for county and city managers, in the first instance, to ensure that the reduction in staff numbers is managed so that the appropriate service level is maintained.

Where vacancies arise, local authorities must consider all options for reorganisation and reallocation of work to meet requirements. Any exceptions to the moratorium require sanction from the Department. All staffing sanction requests are examined on a case-by-case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services and the need to further reduce overall staffing levels in the local authority sector. The Department works closely with local authorities to ensure that key posts are filled. In this regard, the majority of the sanctions granted are for the filling of posts in front-line service areas such as water services, roads maintenance, housing, community and enterprise, fire and emergency services and in the case of some capital projects.

In view of the financial position facing local authorities and the country as a whole, we must continue to focus on achieving the greatest possible savings. The Department and local authorities will continue to make every effort to ensure that further efficiencies and savings are attained by the sector while an appropriate level of service to the public is maintained.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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This embargo has devastated local authority staff. It was commenced by the Fianna Fáil and Green Party Government and has been continued by the Fine Gael and Labour Party Government. More than 6,500 staff have effectively been removed from the local authorities. There are now no replacements for retirements and resignations, and temporary staff have long since gone. There are also no replacements for staff on maternity leave, sick leave or annual leave. Local authority staff are trying to cope with a massive work overload but, despite their best efforts in working above and beyond the call of duty, the service to the public is being affected and is being significantly reduced. The pressure on the staff is having a detrimental effect on their health. The recent suggestion by the Tánaiste that the remaining staff should take up the slack shows that he is completely out of touch with the local authority scene. There is no slack and the staff are working above and beyond the call of duty. In circumstances where services are being reduced and staff are under huge pressure, does the Minister not agree it is time to lift the moratorium and begin filling posts in local authorities?

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The moratorium will not be lifted in the foreseeable future. It is clear that local authorities could not maintain key services with a blanket embargo on recruitment and for that reason they have the option of making representations and requests to the Department. These are examined on a case by case basis, particularly in the context of maintaining full front-line services. If the Deputy or others can outline some key requirements regarding the filling of posts, they will be examined by the Department, regardless of previous sanctions. It would not be possible to maintain front-line services with the blanket embargo mentioned by the Deputy but the moratorium will remain in place and the filling of key posts in local authorities will require the sanction of the Department.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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We have 440,000 people unemployed and the last thing we should do is add to that number. We should also not add to the direct cost to the State of unemployment, given that each additional person on the live register costs approximately €20,000. There is also the knock-on effect of the loss of jobs in local authorities. It is accepted that each new job generates approximately three jobs in downstream employment.

Similarly, one job loss in a local authority means the loss of another three jobs downstream. Given that there are 440,000 people unemployed, surely this is madness. We need to retain staff, remove the embargo, inflate the economy and create jobs.

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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The time for Priority Questions has expired. We must move on to ordinary oral questions.