Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Finance if a general embargo is in place on the recruitment of staff other than to fill existing vacancies by local authorities. [8936/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In December 2002, in order to control public service numbers, the Government decided to cap numbers at the existing authorised level and to reduce numbers by 5,000 across all sectors by the end of 2005. Numbers in the local authorities are to be reduced by 1,000 over that period.

I am satisfied with the progress being made in regard to the reduction in public service numbers since the announcement of the measure in December 2002. Details of how effect is to be given to this policy in individual Departments and sectors of the public service is a matter for the relevant Minister in each case.