Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of former employees who have been brought back to work on contract, or others employed on contract to do work which has traditionally been done in-house amongst his Department and the agencies under his authority; and the way in which this practice fits with the intention of an embargo on recruitment. [36462/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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In light of the short timescale and the number of agencies under the Department's remit, it has not been possible for my Department to prepare details of the number of former employees currently employed on contract. In 2004 the number of former, that is retired, civil and public servants employed on a contract basis was 23. The majority of people employed on this basis are assigned to short-term projects outside of the traditional work of the Department, where particular expertise is required, and do not form part of the Department's overall staffing numbers.

A number of these employees — seven in 2004 — were recruited directly by my Department by way of a special open competition to work in the asylum area. My Department operates within the staffing numbers approved by the Minister for Finance and these employees form part of my Department's authorised numbers.