Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the current closure of a respite facility at St Colman's Hospital, Rathdrum, County Wicklow, due to reduced staffing levels resulting from the public service moratorium on recruitment when the hospital is unable to hire staff to cover staff on maternity leave, sick leave and those who have retired, his plans to revise the moratorium; his views that such blanket moratoriums are a crude, inefficient and anti-meritocratic way of enforcing savings; if he will acknowledge that one result of the moratorium is that offices in the public service in which women take maternity leave inevitably suffer an increased workload, and that this may disproportionately impact on offices or work areas which happen to be staffed disproportionately by women; his views on the implications that this has for gender equality; and if he will make a statement on his assessment of the public service moratorium generally. [28894/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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On the specific institution referred to by the Deputy I would say it is a matter for the board and management of the HSE to set staffing and services priorities in accordance with Government policy. It is part of the day-to-day function of the boards and management of all public bodies to assess, budget and plan for current and ongoing staffing requirements within existing resources. Any inquiries relating to the day-to-day operations of St. Colman's hospital should be directed to that body or to my colleague, the Minister for Health. On the more general issues raised, the position is that Ireland is committed to reducing the overall size of the public service, as I indicated to Deputy Fleming.

I do not agree with the Deputy's assertion that the moratorium is unfair to any particular group or sector of workers. All public service bodies are equal opportunity employers and are committed to treating everyone in the same way regardless of race or colour, nationality or national or ethnic origin, religion or religious belief, sex or marital status, family status, sexual orientation, membership of the Traveller community, disability or age. The public service has a very good record in this regard.

Moreover, the reason for any vacancy is not a factor in decisions relating to the moratorium. It should be noted by the Deputy that a number of exceptions have been granted by my Department to cover maternity leave where the posts in question met the agreed exemption protocols in order to protect crucial services. Delivering this reduction will require continued implementation of the moratorium on recruitment with exceptions being limited only to those essential posts and the utilisation of redeployment not being available. I have indicated in a previous reply where flexibility exists in the moratorium. However, in general terms, we need to reduce the numbers to a manageable profile so that pay reduction targets can be met.

Additional informationnot given on the floor of the House.

In order to protect front line services, the Government is committed to making fundamental changes to the way the public service operates. In order to protect crucial services, exceptions to the moratorium may be granted on the following basis: where statutory posts which have to be filled for legal reasons; where failure to fill posts would result in a breach of EU-international regulations and impact upon exports etc.; safety related posts - where failure to fill them could leave the State open to potential legal liabilities or for security reasons; specialist-technical posts to ensure continuity of operations, for example, in the case of legal officers, laboratory staff and maritime safety; and to ensure continuity of front-line services.

In the case of the health sector, a number of grades are exempted from the moratorium in order to ensure that these vital services are maintained. It is part of the day-to-day function of the boards and management of all public bodies to assess, budget and plan for current and ongoing staffing requirements with in existing resources. All Departments and agencies have to deliver better value to the public in order to reduce the deficit and protect front line services.

Over the past years, enhanced systems for monitoring numbers and multi-annual employment frameworks have been put in place. These arrangements will be strengthened to ensure that effect is given to Government decisions on public service numbers and will aid public bodies in planning future staffing levels. However, it remains a matter for local agency and parent Department management to decide on operational priorities within the framework of Government policy and resources allocated.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for his response. I am disappointed with some of points made in the reply. The moratorium on recruitment is by definition, non-strategic, depending as it does on when a staff member may be sick or is pregnant or approaching retirement age. It does not help in achieving value for money. It may be a method for reducing staff numbers but it is not a strategic way to reduce numbers.

The Minister has stated the moratorium does not discriminate against anyone but, by definition, if maternity leave is included in the moratorium, then this discriminates against women.

I wish to read out some of the responses I have received from female civil servants-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I do not wish the Deputy to read out quotes because this is Question Time.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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These are very brief and I have a question afterwards. They read:

It is hard enough to go on maternity leave and feel guilty for your colleagues when you are being replaced. Imagine how hard it is when you are not being replaced. It is awful to have your boss put their head in their hands and go, "Great, well done".

The following was said by a boss to a female staff member who was pregnant, "You cannot plan your family around the troika". I maintain that by definition the moratorium discriminates against women.

I am very disappointed that the Minister states the closure of St. Colman's hospital is a matter for the HSE. The reason it has closed is because staff members are on maternity leave and this has been confirmed by the HSE. Staff on maternity leave cannot be replaced because of the rules which the Minister oversees. The HSE has confirmed that the respite service and the day care centre have been closed.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Has Deputy Donnelly raised this matter with the Department of Health?

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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A question, please, Deputy.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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I have discussed it with the Department. It is within the Minister's power. Will the Minister supply the cost-benefit analysis regarding maternity leave? Will he review the very crude approach which is the moratorium on recruitment? If so, will he indicate when he might come back to the House with some answers?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am surprised the Deputy is so clear in his assertion that a hospital closed because staff were pregnant. I will go back to the HSE to ascertain the basis of the assertion. This is primarily a matter for the Minister for Health and I will ask him to revert to the Deputy directly in this regard.

The Deputy is correct with regard to the general principle. I agree there is a certain crudeness about a moratorium but if we have to downsize within a very tight timeframe there is no point in getting rid of people if they can be replaced. I hope to redefine the mechanisms to exclude some of the cruder consequences, including those referred to by the Deputy. However, I must do this in the straitjacket of the financial burden under which we live and bearing in mind my objectives to save money on pay. The Deputy is well placed to understand those pressures.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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If I may read a direct quotation, "The Health Service Executive says the decision-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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This is Question Time, Deputy.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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I am replying directly to the Minister.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Quotations are not permitted in the House.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I have informed the Deputy already.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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I will send the information to the Minister. The HSE is on the record as confirming that maternity leave and sick leave is one of the reasons the respite centre is being closed. With regard to Deputy Fleming's question, the end of February date is a significant problem for teachers. I hear this many times.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy is straying well beyond his question.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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This is also a priority question. The Deputy should allow the Minister to reply.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Will the Minister review whether the date can be changed for teachers because many teachers will be leaving the service half way through the year?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I hope I am not encroaching on a question that is to come, but the Leas-Cheann Comhairle may stop me if I am. I am aware of the difficulty the Deputy has identified. While it is not possible legally to give different dates to different categories of public service workers, we must have a strategy to deal with that issue when it arises.